The English FA have hired an external legal firm to help with Wayne Rooney’s suspension appeal.
Rooney’s appeal against a three-match ban, which is threatening to rule him out of Euro 2012’s entire group stage, will be heard by UEFA on Thursday.
He is currently due to miss matches against France, Sweden and Ukraine next year for kicking out at Miodrag Dzudovic in England’s final qualifier in Montenegro in October.
Adrian Bevington, managing director of Club England, said that the FA contingent are determined to put together a strong legal case, so they have brought in outside help.
Capello plans beach break
Fabio Capello plans to take England’s Euro 2012 squad on a beach vacation to Marbella in a bid to refresh his players before the finals in Poland and Ukraine.
Capello is concerned that England’s players will arrive for the Euro build-up both physically and mentally fatigued at the end of a long season with their clubs.
“We will go to Marbella for five or six days,” Capello said. “It’s very nice. We needed to find a warm place, where we can work as a group and there are no problems for training.
“I know the facilities very well because it is the place where Fiorentina train, Bayern Munich went there for a long time.”
AEK Larnaca hire Vlemmings
Leon Vlemmings has been named coach of AEK Larnaca to replace fellow Dutchman Ton Caanen.
Caanen, the former coach of Valletta FC, was removed by AEK Larnaca a fortnight ago after a disappointing start to the Cypriot season.
Vlemmings, 41, is thought to have been the preferred choice of AEK technical director Jordi Cruyff to take over at the Europa League hopefuls.
“AEK announces the appointment of Dutch coach Leon Vlemmings until the end of the season,” the club said.
“AEK would like to welcome Leon Vlemmings into its family and to wish him every success.”
Bremen win crucial – Ribery
Franck Ribery admitted winning was all that mattered for Bayern Munich as their 4-1 win over Werder Bremen put them back on top of the German league, usurping champions Dortmund.
“It was definitely better than last week,” said Ribery, after Bayern slumped to a 3-2 defeat at Mainz in their previous outing.
“Winning was what mattered here. It’s never good when Bayern lose, and it’s always hard work against Bremen.
“We did well today, we were aggressive and closed them down early.”
Anelka knows next move
Nicolas Anelka insists he already knows where he will be playing in January after Chelsea confirmed the French striker has been put on the transfer list.
Anelka and Blues team-mate Alex have both had transfer requests accepted by the Premier League club.
The former Arsenal and Real Madrid forward has been strongly linked with a move to mega-rich Russian club Anzi Machakala.
In a statement on his official website, Anelka said: “I’ve known for a little while where I’ll be on January 2. The club, which is going through a difficult time, has decided to work with Chelsea’s players of the future and, as I am a good professional, I have accepted this.”
Hernandez out for a month
Sir Alex Ferguson revealed Mexico international Javier Hernandez could miss the next month after suffering an ankle injury at Villa Park.
Manchester United striker Hernandez tore ligaments in his ankle and was stretchered off early in the first half of the 1-0 victory over Aston Villa.
Ferguson admitted the 23-year-old is unlikely to play again this year.
“Javier has torn ligaments in his ankle and will be out for three to four weeks,” said the United manager.
“It’s a bad time for us but it’s just as well that we’ve got a strong squad.”
Podolski has offers
Cologne striker Lukas Podolski has admitted that offers are arriving for him, although he first wants to hear what his hometown club can offer him before considering his future.
“I will talk to Cologne before anybody else and see what they have to say,” he told ZDF television.
“Of course I am getting plenty of offers and I expect more of them to arrive to me, to my agent or to my club in the coming weeks. But I repeat, I must first talk to Cologne.”
Podolski still has 18 months left on his contract with Cologne, but after a turbulent few months, he has frequently hinted that he would like to move to a bigger club at the prime of his career.